In a surprising move within the division, Marcus Mariota, the former backup quarterback for the Philadelphia Eagles in 2023, has signed a one-year contract with the Washington Commanders, ESPN's Adam Schefter reported. The deal is valued at a base of $6 million, with the potential to earn up to $10 million.

This new agreement marks a pay raise for Mariota, who had previously played for the Eagles on a one-year contract worth $5 million last season. With this move, Mariota will enter his 10th NFL season in 2024.

During his tenure with the Eagles, Mariota served as an expensive insurance policy for quarterback Jalen Hurts. However, due to Hurts' durability and strong performance, Mariota rarely saw any field action. He was limited to three games, playing a total of just 44 snaps.

In his limited appearances, Mariota showcased his abilities by completing 15 of 23 passes for 164 yards, with one touchdown and one interception in the 2023 season.

It is worth noting that there was significant speculation in 2015 about the Eagles potentially trading up to draft Mariota. However, he ultimately joined the team eight seasons later as a clear backup option.

With Mariota's departure, the Eagles now face the task of finding a new backup quarterback. Last season, they drafted Tanner McKee from Stanford in the sixth round. While McKee did not see any game time as a rookie, he impressed during training camp and served as the emergency quarterback for every game.

As the 2024 season approaches, it remains to be seen whether the Eagles will entrust the backup quarterback position to McKee or explore other options. The decision will surely be an intriguing one for the team as they prepare for the upcoming season.

It will be interesting to follow Mariota's journey with the Washington Commanders and see how he contributes to their quarterback lineup.